Whether you prefer to play poker online or at a local casino, the slow roller is someone you should pay careful attention to. While one of the main goals will be to throw fellow players off their stride, it is hardly good sportsmanship. In this guide, we will highlight some specific examples of slow rolling
WHAT IS A SLOW ROLL IN POKER
A slow roll constitutes poker players having an extremely strong hand, but they make a scene of calling a large final bet, and end up adding unnecessary drama to the game. Essentially, players will take a long time before revealing their hand at the showdown.
So, for example, you could have a winning hand formed by a King, Jack, and two Hearts, and there are three Hearts by the raise. But if your opponent decides against taking aggressive action and raising, you can be sure you will have the best hand even if it’s not the absolute nuts.
IS SLOW ROLLING IN POKER AGAINST THE RULES?
But is slow rolling in poker against the rules? In short, it is deemed bad etiquette, but it’s an unwritten rule, so it is unlikely you will face penalties like being excluded from a game, and it is unlikely a fellow poker player will be kicked out of a game for doing so at the table. However, slow rolling won’t win you too many friends playing at a casino, so you should avoid doing it. In general, online slow rolls are much harder to spot.
WHY IS SLOW ROLLING RUDE?
A slow roll is designed to goad players into losing their temper at the poker table. If you have an unbeatable poker hand, you will gain very little from taunting other players as it is just bad sportsmanship, so you should always display good manners and be respectful of others at the table. Let your poker skills do the talking as most players at the table won’t take too kindly to your antics!
HOW TO AVOID A SLOW ROLL AND WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE SLOW ROLLED?
Some things in live poker might not be as clear cut or as obvious, however, slow rolling someone as we have seen, is against the spirit of the game. So, if you are playing poker, you ought to do the following to avoid any accidental slow roll.
- Muck your hand or reveal your hand immediately when it is your turn to go.
- Always be polite and turn your hand when a player says “you’ve got it” or words to that effect.
- Turn your hand first if you know you have the “nuts” as these will be winning cards and you will get your hands on the big pot.
Slow rolling can be a distraction in poker, but if you find yourself being slow rolled whether it be playing online or at a casino, you should always look to keep your calm. Don’t let others show that you are irate as it can give them false hope they can lay stronger hands in the latter rounds.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLOW ROLLING AND SLOW PLAYING?
In short, the notion of the slow roll shouldn’t be confused with slow play. While slow rolling can create unnecessary drama while making an all in bet, slow playing, which is otherwise known as “sandbagging” or “trapping” refers to playing a strong hand weakly to encourage your opponent to make a big bet. For example, in the final round, a player might make go all in and their hole cards might show pocket kings.
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SLOW ROLL AND HOLLYWOOD?
While a slow roll involves a player creating a scene of calling a large final bet, Hollywood is often used as a verb. It refers to talking in a specific way to spark a particular reaction from an opponent during a hand. In live events, “Hollywooding” can be quite deceptive during a small blind as players might speak with a great deal of confidence, and they may seem like they are in a comfortable position even if their hand might not be as strong as they had initially suggested. Essentially, it is a form of overacting.
SUMMARY
As we have seen, slow rolling is not against the rules, but in any game involving two players or more, it is likely to provoke strong reactions around the table. Instead, you should always try to act with decorum so that a game can pass without incident and avoid riling your opponents. We hope our in-depth guide has given you a clearer idea of avoiding slow rolling in limit hold’em style games.